Congress:
EuroSafe Imaging 2017
Keywords:
Breast, Action 8 - Radiation protection training and learning material, Action 11 - Dialogue with industry, Action 3 - Image quality assessment based on clinical indications, Action 6 - Education and training in medical radiation protection, Action 5 - Exchange and collaboration with medical industry, Action 4 - Quality of radiological equipment, Mammography, Equipment, Cancer
DOI:
10.1594/esi2017/ESI-0036
Background/Introduction
COCIR Members are committed to promoting the Eurosafe Imaging campaign,
raising awareness and promoting training,
helping accelerate the use of technologies in Europe that can help meet the campaign’s objectives.
The purpose of mammography is to safely detect breast cancer in its early stages,
which requires careful attention to image quality in addition to minimizing patient radiation exposure. Innovative technologies in breast imaging are crucial elements in improving clinical outcome.
In mammography it is most important to consistently produce high quality images at the lowest radiation dose.
Dose optimization is a permanent driver for COCIR manufacturers,
and takes a particular importance in breast cancer screening programs,
where the vast majority of attending population is “healthy”.
Diagnostic reference levels are an important tool for dose optimization,
and are supported by manufacturers of breast imaging devices through many technological features that help users to collect and analyze data to determine DRLs and to minimize the dose.
For instance:
- Methods to calibrate systems to appropriate dose levels
- Systems that automatically calculate exposure mean glandular dose and populate patient records
- QA tools like repeat and reject analysis
- Dose management systems
Most of the latest technologies in 2D breast imaging are already delivering dose well below DRLs.Some of these features are already mandatory in most EU Member.
Minimization of population dose depends upon many factors in addition to the technological developments.
Regular system calibration and maintenance are key. Preventing exposure repeats,
through proper radiographer training,
is another.
Finally,
clinical verification of new technical developments gives the radiological community confidence that commercialized systems meet the required clinical performance goals.